Olympic Speakers Breakfast - Part 1

Speakers

Location

28 Portland Place
London

Date

Thursday 20th October 2011

Time

This breakfast was the first of two special Olympic-based events, designed to showcase motivational speakers for conference audiences in the run-up to London 2012. What can we learn from the Olympians?

Kelly Holmes is only the second woman in history to claim the 800m and 1500m titles at the same Games. The BBC Sports Personality of the Year and Ambassador for London 2012 persevered for over a decade and overcame injury and illness before achieving her ultimate goal. Kelly outlined the passion, compassion and courage needed to succeed.

At the age of 21 Karen Darke fell from a cliff and became paralysed from the neck down. Determined not to let her condition get the better of her, she set off for the Himalayas and Alaska; next year she represents Team GB in para-cycling. Karen demonstrated how we can achieve all manner of things we considered impossible.

Greg Whyte represented Great Britain in the Modern Pentathlon (comprising swimming, shooting, fencing, running and equestrian disciplines) at two Olympics and ten World Championships. He is now a highly prized coach, and the man behind David Walliams’ long-distance swimming and Eddie Izzard’s 43 marathons in 51 days.

Steve Backley was the first British athlete to ‘medal’ at three consecutive Olympic Games. The four-time European Javelin Champion and winner of three Commonwealth Golds has a background in sports psychology and discussed the three main attributes which are required for success: self-belief, application and motivation.

Watch Compliation

Speakers

Steve Backley

Javelin Medallist

Steve Backley

Steve won medals in three consecutive Olympics and set three world javelin records. He was in the top ten for a decade, ranked No1 for three years. Steve shows how to plan for success, believe in yourself, enjoy rivalry and stay passionate about what you’re doing. He also demonstrates the cost of complacency and what happens when you rest on your laurels: “If you want to continue to be the best in the world, you must behave and compete as if you’re only the second best.”

Dame Kelly Holmes

Double Olympic Gold Medallist

Dame Kelly Holmes

With accolates and medals at every level of athletics, Kelly made history as the first British woman to win two Gold medals at the same games at the Athens Olympics. This incredible achievement was revealed to be even greater when Kelly later discussed the personal and psychological pressures she experienced. Now a broadcaster and author, she remains one of the country's most popular sporting figures, a mental and physical health advocate who explores what achievement, teamwork, preparation and values really look like.

Karen Darke

Para-cyclist & Mountaineer

Karen Darke

Karen has kayaked through Alaska’s Inner Passage and cycled from Tibet to Nepal, in spite of paralysis from the chest down. After claiming silver in London she squeezed in (and filmed) an Iron Man contest as part of her build up to Rio, and then took gold in the Paralympics (despite losing a year’s training after being hit by a car). Karen shows how we can best understand ourselves and others by attempting challenges. The emotions they untap aren’t signs of weakness, they help us heal: “Listening to yourself and dealing with fear makes you stronger.”

Professor Greg Whyte

Professor of Applied Sport & Exercise Science

Professor Greg Whyte

Greg was a pentathlete before becoming Research Director at BOA, helping prepare Team GB for five Olympics. He’s also trained David Walliams to swim the Thames and Izzard to run 43 marathons. He continues to help celebrities with charity challenges as well as elite athletes in professional competition. In speeches Greg demonstrates that success is not a question of chance – witness the four remarkable women he trained to cross the English Channel.

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